The Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild are battling each other from different arenas tonight. (AP Photo)

1. Chicago Blackhawks. Given how the Minnesota Wild have played down the stretch, Chicago should hope for both them and the Columbus Blue Jackets to lose; Minnesota would get the eighth seed on tiebreakers. Detroit, currently in seventh place by a point, has played the Blackhawks as tough as anyone. Other than that, the Blackhawks can't be all that concerned about the outcome of their own game against the St. Louis Blues.

2. Anaheim Ducks. Their game against the Phoenix Coyotes has no bearing on anything. Similarly, they likely would rather not play the Wings. A Detroit win would guarantee that, as would a single point and anything less than a Wild overtime win. They can't play the Blue Jackets unless Columbus (53) finishes with more points than Detroit (54) and Minnesota (53).

3. Vancouver Canucks. They're locked into third place and benched several key players against the Oilers. Their likely opponent is the loser of Kings-Sharks, though they could play St. Louis if the Blues lose in regulation, or lose in overtime and have the Kings win.

4. St. Louis Blues. If St. Louis beats Chicago, they clinch home ice. If they get one point against Chicago, they get home ice with a Sharks win. If they lose in regulation, they need San Jose to win in regulation.

5. Los Angeles Kings. The defending champs can take home ice in the first round if they beat the Sharks, then have St. Louis lose in overtime, regulation or a shootout.

6. San Jose Sharks. The Sharks get home ice with a win over the Kings and a Blues regulation loss. If San Jose beats LA in regulation and the Blues lose in regulation, Sharks-Blues would be the first-round series. If San Jose beats LA in overtime or a shootout and the Blues lose in regulation, it'd be Sharks-Kings.

7. Detroit Red Wings. They clinch a playoff spot with one point against the Dallas Stars, and the seventh seed with a win. If they lose, they can still clinch with a Wild regulation loss or any variety of Columbus loss.

8. Minnesota Wild. They wasted a shot at clinching in an embarrassing loss to the Edmonton Oilers. They can still clinch with a win over the Colorado Avalanche; a regulation loss with a Blue Jackets regulation loss; or if they and the Blue Jackets both get a single point.

9. Columbus Blue Jackets. They need help. If they beat Nashville, they need Minnesota to lose in either regulation, overtime or the shootout, or Detroit to lose in regulation. If they get a single point, they need Detroit or Minnesota to lose in regulation.